Plastic material dispenser



May 26, 1942. E. D. sKlNNER PLASTIC MATERIAL DISPENSER Filed Feb. 21. 1940 NN MM Piland May 26, 1942 PLASTIC MATERIAL DISPENSER Edward D. Skinner, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to Kenmar Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a copartnersliip composed of Robert Calhoun, Jr., and Vincent E. Deweea Application February 21, 1940, Serial N0. 320,026

'I Claims.

This invention relates to plastic material dispensera, that is to say, to devices for dispensing and applying plastic materials such as caulking compounds,putty, heavy greases, and the like. y

More particularly, the invention relates to that type of dispenser in which the plastic material is initially placed in a cartridge which is inserted in the dispenser to replenish the supply of vplastic material when a previous supply has been expelled therefrom.

Heretofore in the use of plastic material dispensers of the pre-filled cartridge type, the'removal of the empty cartridge shells after the material has been expelled therefrom by the mechanism of the dispenser was usually a bothersome operation. It was necessary in such devices for the cartridge to fit the interior of the barrel of the dispensing device with a relatively close, yet sliding. fit and, by reason of the nature of the materials handled in such devices, considerable dimculty was usually experienced in the removal of the empty shells from the barrel of the dispenser.

Also, by reason of slight inequalities in size of instances, the cartridge shell would rupture and l permit thematerial to be forced between the walls of the shell and the barrel. In either of the foregoing events additional diillculties in connection with the removal of the shell from the barrel would occur. v

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a plastic material dispenser, of the cartridge type, in which the empty cartridge shell willbe partially expelled when the cap member at the discharge end of the dispenser is removed, enabling the shell to be readily grasped by the operator for the purpose of vremoving the same from the barrel of the dispensing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a plastic material dispenser of the cartridge type, improved means for preventing leakage at the forward end of the cartridge whereby some of the material being dispensed would be forced into whatever space might exist between the exterior of the cartridge shell and the interior of the barrel of the dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a plastic material dispenser of the character aforesaid, means for partially expelling the empty cartridge from the dispenser which will be simple, elcient, yet certain in its action.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a plastic material dispenser of the character aforesaid having means for partially expelling the empty cartridge from the dispenser. means for readily adapting the dispenser to receive cartridges of different lengths.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in longitudinal section, and partly in side elevation, of a caulking or grease gun, having a cartridge in place therein and provided with means embodying the main features of the present invention, the parts being shown in the positions after a portion of the contents of the cartridge have been expelled therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the cap at the discharge end of the dispenser removed therefrom, and the cartridge shown partially expelled from the barrel to a position to be readily grasped by the operator for removal;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a cap member, employed at the nozzle end of the dispenser,

the same being removed from the barrel, and the view being taken looking toward the interior; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentarysectional detail view showing a modied form of the invention, including means for adapting the dispenser to a cartridge shell of a different length.

vIt will, of course, be understood that the description and drawing herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, I0 is the cylinder or barrel portion of the dispenser, on the front end of which a nozzle Il` is mounted by means of a cap member I2; said nozzle and cap member being of any preferred style.

The cap member I2 is ordinarily made removable for the purpose of inserting a filled car tridge within the barrel after the contents of one of said cartridges have been expelled by the actuation of the mechanism of the dispenser.

For the purpose of enabling the cap member I2 to be quickly removed and replaced on the end of the barrel, lthe rim portion of said cap` which thepiston rod extends.

member is provided with two diametrically opposite internally extending lugs I3 which are adapted to engage the helical surfaces oi' a'pair of circumferential sector lugs Il mounted on the end of `the barrel.

The cap member I2 is also provided with an internal shoulder I l which serves as a seat for a resilient washer Il mounted therein, which washer Il may be made of leather, rubber, felt or other suitable material. Y

Similarly, on the rear end of the cylinder III there is provided a cap member I1 to which the handle or stock- I8 is secured in any preferred manner. As the cap member I1 on the rear end of the cylinder does not ordinarily have to be aasaeoa vided on the pistonrod as part of the'operating means.

As there is some variation in the length of the cartridges used by various manufacturers, there may also be provided as, shown in-Flg..4 of the drawing, an additional sleeve which is also mounted on the piston rod and interposed be- -tween the end of the coil spring 26 and the disc member 2B, it being understood that such a sleeve 29 of the proper length will be supplied, so as to permit the dispenser, which is made for a cartridge of one -length,to be utilized for the removed for the insertionv of a filled cartridge,

the same may be screw threadedon the rear end 0f the cylinder I0.

'I'he handle or stock Il is preferably made from sheet metal suitably shaped and formed -`to provide a housing for the actuating parts which,

with the usual piston 2I,- and on its outer end with a handle 22 for the direct manual actuation of the piston rod either forwardly or rearwardly when desired.

The cartridge proper comprises a hollow cylindrical shell 23 of such external diameter as to permit it to be inserted within the cylinder Ill withv a loose sliding ilt. The shell 23 is of such length that when it is inserted in the cylinder Ill, and the cap member I2 which carries the discharge nozzle II is mounted in place, the forward end of the cartridge shell 23 will be ilrmly held against the resilient washer I6 in a manner "to be hereinafter set forth.

The piston 2|, which'is carried at the inner end of the rod 20, is preferably of a diameter slightly less than the interior of the cartridge shell -23 and bears against the auxiliary piston 2l usually provided as part of the cartridge.

At the rear end of the cylinder I0 there is provided a.l disc member 25 slidably mounted in said cylinder and having a central hole through The disc 2l is of a diameter substantially equal to that of the internal diameter of the' cylinder III, and the rim of the disc member 25 engages the inner end of the cartridge shell 23 when the cartridge is placed within the cylinder I0.

Surrounding the piston rod 20, between the disc member 25 and the rear cap member I1, is a coil spring 28 which impels the disc member 25 forwardly and, when the cartridge is mounted' to the piston rod 20 and the disc member 25 but also prevents any of the convolutions of the coil spring 26 from becoming fouled on the teeth 28 of the piston rod 20, when such teeth are proreception of a cartridge of a, length which is shorter than the iirst mentioned by the length 0f the sleeve supplied.

The operation of the device will be readily apparent. In reillling the dispenser, the cap member I2, with the nozzle II carried thereby, having been removed at the time the previous empty cartridge shell was removed from the cylinder I0, the illled cartridge is slid into said cylinder and pushed rearwardly therein until the inner-end of the cartridge shell 23 engages the rim of the disc member 25.

The cap member I2 is then' brought into engagement with the protruding end of the cartridge and the cartridge thereby pushed inwardly to its final or operative position. The internal lugs I3 0n the rim of the cap member I2 are then broughtinto engagement with the helical surfaces of the sector lugs I4 carried by the end of the cylinder I0, and the cap member I2 is then turned to lock the same in position on the end of the cylinder Ill.

After the material has been expelled from the cartridge by the actuation of the piston rod 2D, the cap member I2 is then removed by a reverse actuation thereof, whereupon the disc member 25, impelled by the coil spring 26, will push the empty cartridge shell 23 forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, whereupon the operator may grasp the projecting end of the cartridge shell 23 and pull the same out of the cylinder I0.

It will be seen that there is thus provided simple and eillcient means for facilitating the removal of the empty cartridge shells from the cylinder of a dispenser, which will also serve to prevent leakage around the front end of the cartridge jshell when the material contained therein is under the pressure resulting from the actuationk of the piston rod.

I claim:

l. In a plastic material dispenser of the preillled cartridge type employing a cartridge which is fully open at both ends, a cylinder adapted to receive the cartridge in frictional contact therewith, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod upon the end of which said piston is mounted, a cap member removably mounted on the front end of the cylinder, a, discharge nozzle carried by said cap member, said cap' member also having a peripheral rim and an internal shoulder adjacent said rim, a resilient washer-seated on said shoulder, and means engaging the rear end of the cartridge shell for holding the forward end, thereof against said washer and for partially expelling the empty cartridge shell when the cap member is removed from the front end of the cylinder.

2. In a plastic material dispenser of the pre- .'illled cartridge type, a cylinder adapted to receive the cartridge in frictional contact therewith, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod upon the end of which said piston is mounted, a disc movably mounted in the rear end of the cylinder and adapted to engage one end of the cartridge shell, as spring for impelling the disc member forwardly, a cap member removably mounted on the iront end of the cylinder, and a discharge nomic carried by said cap member, the spring being extensible suiliciently to partially expel the empty cartridge shell when the cap member is removed from the iront end of the cylinder.

3. In a plastic material dispenser of the preiilled cartridge type, a cylinder adapted to receive the cartridge, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod uponthe end ot which said piston is mounted, a disc movably mounted in the rear end of the cylinder and adapted to engage one end oi' the cartridge shell, a coil spring mounted on the piston rod and adapted to impel the disc member forwardly, said coil spring being extensible suiliciently to partially expel the empty cartridge shell from the cylinder.

4. In a plastic material dispenser of the prefilled cartridge type, a cylinder adapted to receive the cartridge, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod upon the end of which said piston is mounted, a disc movably mounted in the rear end ot the cylinder and adapted to engage one end of the cartridge shell, a coil spring mounted on the piston rod and adapted to impel the disc member forwardly, a cap member removably mounted on the front end of the cylinder, and a discharge nozzle carried by said cap member,y the coil spring being extensible suificiently to partially expel the empty cartridge shell when the cap member is removed from the front end of the cylinder.

5. In a plastic material .dispenser of the prenllcd cartridge type employing a cartridge which is fully open at both ends, a cylinder adapted to receive the cartridge, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod upon the end of which said piston is mounted, a disc movably mounted in the rear end of the cylinder and adapted to engage one end o! the cartridge shell, a coil spring mounted on the piston rod and adapted to impel the disc member forwardly,l a cap member removably mounted on the front end ot the cylinder, a discharge nozzle carried by said cap member, said cap member also having a peripheral rim and an internal shoulder adjacent said rim, and a resilient washer seated on said shoulder, the forward-end of the cartridge shell being held against said washer by the tension of the coil spring, and the coil spring also being extensible suiliciently to partially expel the empty cartridge shell when the cap member is removed from the front end of the cylinder.

6. In a plastic material dispenser of the pretllled cartridge type. a cylinder adapted to receive the cartridge, a piston reciprocable therein, a piston rod upon the end of which said piston is mounted, a disc movably mounted in the rear end of the cylinder and adapted to engage one end of the cartridge shell, a coil spring mounted on the piston rod and adapted to impel the disc member forwardly, a sleeve through which the piston rod extends and around which` the coil spring is disposed, a cap member removably mounted on the front end of the cylinder, a discharge nozzle carried by said cap member, said cap member also having a peripheral rim and an internal shoulder adjacent said rim, .and a resilientwasher 4seated on said shoulder, the forward end of the cartridge shell being held against said washer by the tension of the coil spring, and the coil spring also being extensible sunlciently to partially expel the empty cartridge shell when the cap member is removed from the front end of the cylinder. v

7. In a plastic material dispenser of the prefilled cartridge type. a cylinder adapted to receive the cartridge, a piston reciprocablc therein, a piston rod upon the end of which said piston is mounted, a disc movably mounted in the rear end of the cylinder and adapted to engage one end oi' the cartridge shell. a coil spring surrounding the piston rod and adapted to impel the disc member forwardly, a spacer sleeve through which the piston rod extends interposed between the disc member and the end of the coil spring, a cap member removably mounted on the front end ot the cylinder, a discharge nozzle carried by said cap member, said cap member` also having an internal shoulder, and a resilient washer seated on said shoulder, the

forward end of the cartridge shell being held EDWARD D. SKINNER. 

